You Should Stock Your First-Aid Kit with Basic Oral Care Items

Posted January 11, 2017.

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Oral accidents, dental damage and oral emergencies not only cause pain, but they can also require expensive treatments. When one occurs, being prepared to provide immediate first aid will often improve treatment options and success. To that end, your dentist, Dr. Tontra Lowe, DDS, recommends these basic oral care items to stock in your first-aid kit.

Waxed dental floss is a very helpful tool for removing food particles or foreign objects from between teeth or along the gumline. The waxy coating allows the strand to slide between teeth easier than unwaxed floss. It could also be helpful to keep a floss threader in the kit. This will allow you to work around the foreign object from a different angle.

Dr. Tontra Lowe, DDS might be able to implant a knocked-out tooth back into the socket if it is wholly intact and still alive. While you can keep the tooth living by holding it between your gums and cheek, the tooth-perseveration products sold in stores will do an even better job!

Keeping salt packets and a plastic cup on hand will allow you quickly prepare a saltwater rinse. This can help clear blood and debris from your mouth and soothe injured tissues. Topical oral analgesic can be rubbed onto your gums to partially numb the area for a short time.

Many oral injuries have some swelling associated with them. Keeping a few zip-top bags and a washcloth in your first-aid kit can help you improvise a cold compress.

If you have questions about how to prevent or prepare for oral emergencies in Haymarket, Virginia, you can always call 571-261-2600 to seek further advice from a member of the staff at Awesome Smiles Dental Center.